Leslie Cracknell (Service No 6072) was born in Picton about 1895. At the time of enlistment he was a single 21 year old labourer from Woonona. He had served 2 years in the Cadets and was still with the 37th infantry. He embarked on HMAT A11 Ascanius on 25th October 1916 with 17th Reinforcements, 20th Battalion.

After a brief time in England Leslie arrived in France on 3rd March 1917 and joined B Company, 20th Battalion in the field. On 9th October 1917 while in the battle for Passchendaele he was wounded in action and was evacuated to hospital in England for treatment of a shrapnel wound to his scalp. He returned to his unit in Belgium on 12th February 1918.

On 31st August the 20th Battalion attacked and captured the heights of Mont St Quentin from the enemy. Private Cracknell was one of many casualties. He was killed during this action and is buried in Hem Farm Military Cemetery Plot I, Row K, Grave 14, Hem-Monacu France.